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Recent progress in the restoration of archeological metallic artifacts by means of low-pressure plasma treatment

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Abstract

A new method for the restoration and conservation of archeological artifacts made of metals, such as iron, silver, bronze, and others, has been developed and succesfully tested on more than 14,000 objects. Compared with the conventional restoration techniques, the method, which is based on a partial reduction of the incrustation and corrosion layer by a hydrogen-containing glow discharge plasma, offers significant advantages as regards the quality of the surface of the objects, their stability against postcorrosion, and time and labor savings. The present status of the development will be described, which allows the conservator a routine application of the new method.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH 8057, Zürich, Switzerland

    S. Vepřek

  2. Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz, Ernst-Ludwig-Platz 2, D 6500, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany

    Ch. Eckmann

  3. Swiss National Museum, Museumstrasse 2, CH 8023, Zürich, Switzerland

    J. Th. Elmer

Authors
  1. S. Vepřek
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  2. Ch. Eckmann
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  3. J. Th. Elmer
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Vepřek, S., Eckmann, C. & Elmer, J.T. Recent progress in the restoration of archeological metallic artifacts by means of low-pressure plasma treatment. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 8, 445–466 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016059

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016059

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